ideas needed for new project boat

its a lowes husky. wanna set it up for crappie fishing, mostly trolling. would like ideas on floor material, livewell placement, seats, trolling motor (transom or bow mount),. probaly gonna put the fuel cell and batteries up front under deck. we got a good 60 johnson tiller to put on it. its 17 ft long, floor is 5ft wide and top is 7 ft wide. we took the console, steering wheel, and control box out. we're only running the big motor 10% of the time, so the consol and stuff would be in the way 90% of the time. give me your ideas and pics of your big jon. thx, rick
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tinboatsdotnet has answers to your questions

x2

Before you do anything, put the plug in and start filling it with water to find any loose rivets. Pain in the butt to get to em after you do the mods.

yes, those rivets can be a problem. we tested it once while the console was in, and the 25hp johnson was on it. it didnt have any water in it after testing, but it was a short test. i got the tiller for the 60hp, just gotta put it on. i'm thinking that 60 will be too much for the boat. maybe i'll get it on the boat soon, and get more testing before any mods. thx, rick

keep in mind when your testing that 60 that all the mods you plan will add weight and take more to push it so maybe that 60 won't be to much

You say you have a tiller for that 60. I hope you meant a stick steering sytem. Because a hand tiller might be a bit of brute when you turn.:twocents

tiller handle w/ tilt & trim switch. i thought about stick steer tho. but then again, i'll probaly have a better idea once i get the floor and livewell in.

I think you are right about getting the floor in and then the other things in and see what you have to put where. Looks like you have a nice paint job on there.

You might consider about the weight in the nose if you put fuel tanks and batteries up there. Might make it hard to get up on plane being nose heavy. Also everyting you put up there takes a beating when water is rough including the hull with all those banging around.
I have used cardboard boxes close to the size of things to see how much room I will have with different locations before I start building something permanet and then have to tear it out. Done that before :banghead so I use paper first now.:Doh:

Not trying to tell you what to do just try to help you avoid mistakes I have already made.
Wishing you the best of luck on your boat work.

A 60 won't be too much for that boat, at all. A 60 tiller isn't bad to handle, either.

Ditto what others have said about putting a lot of stuff up front. I have my trolling motor battery and a small depth finder battery in my bow compartment and that's plenty. I spent a little time with some cardboard and plywood and made a level battery platform for the bow compartment to keep the battery off of the floor. It's secured with a bungee cord and it works fine.

Before I made a permanent livewell I would use a 40qt cooler as a model and fish it some moving it around to see what works best where. then fab it up from there

Agree with Wind Knot. I have a 60 hp tiller on a 15.5 foot boat. Turns like a champ and does real good.

outdoor stored on your own no help but..............
If it is indoors out of the weather then use treated decking and lay carpet on the decking only. I ran carpet up the sides just to sound proof it . back to the decking cut it o it can be remove from time to time to retrieve lost items and clean
run your front and rear electronic wire in plastic hose or pipe and fix it to the side
i like the cooler instead of a permenant livewell mostly i can move it to where i want it and makes for easier cleaning.

i extended my front deck and raised it even with the gunnel so trolling motor mount would be a simple to do


the rear storeage area dress up for batteries and anchors with permant boxes that keep everything stored neat and out of the way
personalising boats is great and will save you money and make it just how YOU wnt it
good luck have fun

thx fellas for all the relies and great ideas, keep em coming. i've been busy with custormers equiptment, and a little fishin. but i do plan on this week to at least get the motor on and tested. thx again, rick

I had a 16' stick steer and had fuel and batteries(2) in the rear, and a 40qt cooler that served a couple of purposes. It was always a live well but clearing 250lbs, the boat sat nose down when I was alone. Fill the cooler with water and put it in front of the rear seat helped keep the prop from blowing out. Had it to do over with my back issues I would do an open floorplan and rear seat to drive. Stepping over the center seat doesn't work for me these days.

heres the way my 16' monarch is set up. it was floored before i got it. i put the rod holders and homemade livewell in, its not fancy, but it'll keep 2 limits alive. i love the way this boat is set up. i lay 8 poles in the floor, usally troll with 6. i can fish out of it all day and never get off the back seat. everything is right there, in hand's reach. i mostly use it when i'm by myself, but sometimes uncle lester goes with me and trolls with 4 poles up front, while i'm in the back with 4. i would really like to set this husky up like the monarch is, but be able to take out 3 other passangers and troll comfortably. again thx for the great ideas, rick
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